Five migrants, including girl, 7, die trying to cross the Channel hours after Sunak's Rwanda bill clears Lords
23 April 2024, 08:36 | Updated: 23 April 2024, 15:18
French police have launched an investigation after five migrants died while attempting to cross the Channel.
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There were several failed attempts to cross the Channel on Tuesday morning.
French media is reporting that at least five people have died and that there are "several lifeless bodies" in the water, including a seven-year-old girl.
Around one hundred migrants have been rescued by the French navy, according to the La Voix Du Nord newspaper.
More than 6,000 migrants have already crossed the Channel this year, a 25 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, said: "These tragedies have to stop. I will not accept a status quo which costs so many lives.
"This Government is doing everything we can to end this trade, stop the boats and ultimately break the business model of the evil people smuggling gangs, so they no longer put lives at risk."
It comes just hours after Rishi Sunak's flagship Rwanda bill was passed in the House of Commons.
The bill's passed late on Monday night followed weeks of parliamentary deadlock between the Lords and Commons.
Speaking before the deaths along the Channel were reported, immigration minister Michael Tomlinson said the government is determined to stop the boats to prevent needless deaths in the Channel.
Watch Again: Nick Ferrari is joined by Illegal Immigration Minister Michael Tomlinson | 23/04/24
Earlier on Monday, Mr Sunak said the first deportation flights to Rwanda will leave "in 10 to 12 weeks".
"No ifs, not buts, these flights are going to Rwanda," the prime minister said.He indicated that once the programme in up and running the planes there will be a "regular rhythm" of flights heading to Kigali.
Read More: Victory for Rishi Sunak as Rwanda Bill to become law ending months of parliamentary deadlock
Mr Sunak said yesterday: "Enough is enough. No more prevarication, no more delay. Parliament will sit there tonight and vote no matter how late it goes. No ifs, no buts. These flights are going to Rwanda.
"Describing the plan as an 'indispensable deterrent so that we finally break the business model of the criminal gangs and save lives.
"Starting from the moment that the Bill passes, we will begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight. We have prepared for this moment."
However, Mr Tomlinson told LBC's Nick Ferrari on Tuesday morning that he thought legal challenges would be unavoidable.
"There are those who determined to ensure that this policy will not work," he said.
"There will be challenges, I think it’s inevitable. People are already talking about legal challenges, people are going to put every single stumbling block in our way to try to make this policy not work."
